Sidewalk Chalk

Jesse and Stephen did some artwork on the sidewalk today:

Stephen's Country

Just to let you know how Stephen's extended studies activity went.
This last Thursday was the 4th day of it and he needed to take some type of food. I was out of everything! Hadn't gone shopping and was cooking with other things, so hadn't thought about not having white flour or sugar... So I searched for Swedish recipes and found Pickled Fresh Cucumbers. YAY! There are so many other things I could have made him, if I had put more thought/time into it. Like: Swedish Raisin Rye or Snickerdoodles. Oh well. He enjoyed the pickles. I confess, I haven't tried them, he said they were sweet and I really don't care for sweet pickles. But he was happy with them, so that's what mattered. :-) Makes me happy.
Stephen had all the kids (8 of them) guess, then he showed the Swedish flag and one of his friends figured it out, then he told them it was by Findland and Norway and all the kids got it. They had just studied geography earlier in the day.

School, continued.

So instead of having to bake something, Stephen needed to take a saying from his "country". We did 2- one of them I can't spell, but it means "we go now." My grandma used to say it every time we got in the car to go somewhere. :-)
The other is "var so god", which means "please come and join us, come and dine with us, help yourself to the food, your welcome." Alot, eh? I think it's really interesting that we as english speaking people have all kinds of words and they have more of a set saying that sums them all up.

School

The boys are really doing well in school. Being home schooled it's a little overwhelming for me still.

Stephen is in extended studies this year, this month they are doing a family history project and he has chosen Sweden as the country of his heritage. So we need to send something swedish each week. He has taken a horse and a candle holder. He has to take something tomorrow too, I'm not sure what to send. I know he would love food... so we'll see.

Jesse is getting on top of things this year, he's been coming home with no homework the last few weeks because he's been getting it done at school. I'm so proud of him!

Luke is in band this year, he is playing a tenor saxophone. One of our friends had one and is letting him borrow it. He's in Honors Math and right now he is in Cross Country as well. His day is really busy.

Playing Peek-a-boo

Stephen always gets the little ones to laugh. This is only the 3rd time Titus has laughed- and Stephen got him going really good!

Talking to Titus

Stephen

Stephen's Birthday

Stephen had a birthday this week. Friday we made his cake- he picked a Greek Lemon Cake (will post on my cooking blog later). We mixed it up together- he was completely involved in making it. After it was cooled we made the frosting and we both decorated. He added all the finishing touches. I was very much reminded of myself around his age- I loved decorating my own birthday cake.













While we were baking he said to me: "Mom, you know what the best part of a birthday is? You get the biggest piece of cake!" I laughed to myself, because the day before Brian had made Stephen a birthday card- and it had said exactly that!! Yup, we've got him pegged.


Stephen loves food. He just does. And he loves making it. (Takes after me- I love it too.) We've gotten him gift cards to his favorite restaurant before for his birthday, and thought he would jump out of his skin in excitement. Last year I got him Rachael Ray's kid's cookbook. This year I went shopping and got all the ingredients to make 4 of the meals out of it, ones that he hasn't made. The fridge is stocked. He wants to make dinner tonight.


Later on Friday, our friend Kristy took Stephen to the rodeo- he got all decked out in his western wear to go. He had a good time, talking with Kristy and her friends and munching on candy. (More food...)

Saturday we had a birthday party for him. He invited a couple friends from school. They got here, made their own pizza and then while it was baking Brian had them play some games. The first one we had teams and they had a balloon between their backs- the fasted team to pop it was the winner. Turned out to be a challenge.
The next game we had a string tried to our ceiling fan with a clothes pin on the end. They each had a fruit roll up they had to eat, from the bottom up with no hands. The fastest won. Jesse was the fastest (of the kids) with 10.2 seconds, followed closely by one of Stephen's friends at 13.8 seconds. They ate their custom pizza and then enjoyed Stephen's birthday cake- and yes, Stephen did get the biggest piece. So much so, he couldn't finish it all.

Fall Leaves

The other day Jesse noticed that our crabapple tree's leaves were starting to fall, so he raked up a pile and took Naomi out to play. Stephen joined in the fun and then Jesse came back and got the camera- so he is the photographer here.

Naomi and Stephen

All the boys take piano lessons... and Naomi has them wrapped around her little finger. They sit down to play and she runs up and says "all done, all done." Meaning: "I'm "all done" being on the floor, I want to be up there with you." They, of course, pick her up and let her sit beside them. She plays and sings along with them while they practice and she doesn't put up with any slacking. If their hands aren't on the keys- she puts them there! Check it out:

Best Investment Ever... Legos of all Sizes

So, the boys dug out their old Duplo blocks and have been busy arranging battles all week.
Luke is always blue, Jesse yellow and Stephen red- thier fortresses are in different areas of the living-room.

Naomi thinks it's great... but she doesn't know when she's helping and when she's destroying. Look: the Red Fortress is weak and defenseless against a toddler... good thing she's napping right now!

Ah, the Red Commander is busy attacking the Blue Fortress... with only one soldier??

Stephen's Creations

Photography, design and construction credits go to Stephen.

Lego Drake